THE SNCF has opened its first railway creche, allowing parents to leave children at their local station on the way to work.

The service in the Loire commuter town of Roanne, north-east of Lyon, has been built in the station's former left-luggage facility.

It offers nine places, with priority given to parents who hold a season ticket for the local TER network.

Children can be dropped off as early as 6.45 and the creche remains open until 19.00, or later if the trains are delayed.

The project is jointly funded by the SNCF, the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales and the town, departmental and regional councils. It is run by an outside childcare agency, employing four staff.

It is part of a bigger national initiative by the SNCF to redesign stations and improve services for commuters.

Another railway creche is being built in Saint-Chamond in the Loire, again for Lyon workers.

A third is being considered for Bischwiller in the Bas-Rhin, Alsace, for commuters who work in Strasbourg.

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